Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-04-15
WlTCHCRAFT.


OF the most struggling OF Oxfordshire
villages we'll mounted young gentle
man OF somewhat distinguished ap.
pearence. Calling to the ostler he gave
him particular instructions as to the
treatment OF his horse, and ordering
the best bed and supper the landlord
could provide. retired for e. time to
his room, desiring to be called when
the meal was ready.
In about an hour the supper was on
the table and the stranger sat down
to it. He had evidently come from a.
dlstance--the state of his horse showed
that--and the way he did Justice to
the landlady's cookery proved that
he must have been remarkably hun
cry. The good woman was in truth
rather alarmed at the rapidity with
which he disposed OF what she set be-
fore him.
He was q we'll built young fellow, Of
about eighteen ornineteen, with broad
brow and strangely piercing eyes that
seemed to follow her about the room,
and look through her to the wall each
time she caught their gaze. For about
half an hour he was sllent-too busy,
in fact to sDeAk--but he was pleas
ant and Ikea bic; and when she left
him to himself, the dame had taken
rather fancy to him.
Had she known how he was situat-
ed her thoughts might have gone an
other road. For the distinguished
stranger was q gentleman commoner
OF Orlel, who, with his choice compan-
ions, had been trying a little amateur
highway robbery, and failing to find
victim had come ON here alone, with
out q penny in his pocket, trusting to
what might turn up to furnish him
with the means of paying his bill.
As soon as he was alone he left the
table and took his chair to the fire.
He began to think over his posi-
ton. His thoughts were not encourag-
ing. He had been living what
was 3 wild college life, even in those
Wild days. His father, bencher OF
Gray's Inn, and county magnate of
influence, was an eccentric man OF
strong will, never known to 20 back
on his word; and in his last letter he
had given the son clearly to under
stand that his patience was exhaust
ed. AS to money, he had sent him
enough for some time; and as to "ac-
compts" he would be responsible for
none latter the date of this last letter,
unless you amend" He had not
amended. he had gone further and
failed.
No wonder then that his medita-
lions were unsatisfactory. He knew
that he was not a fool--his experiences
with his fellow students had taught
him tbat-and fortunately on this &C.
casion his self conceit came to his res
cue.
"My father and mother" he said to
,'himself-at least he said years after
ward that he said to himself, for he
: was not an unknown man-."my father
I and mother are better gifted than
= those they meet, and l am very like
! chem. have the old mans voice and
my mother'e eyes. l see things as
quickly as they do, and mind them as
well. And here have I been for two
; years with the chance of getting what
: would give me a living if the old peo-
4 pie We're to throw me over, and what
: have l done?"
What had he done, indeed? He had
1acquired thin coat OF university var
nish.
This is not q work OF imagination,
and we will not enlarge on the stu
dents recognition Of his folly. The
conclusion he came to was the ordi-
nary one, quite the ordinary one: "Let
me get out OF this trouble and I will
never get into another"
But how was he to get out of this trou-
ble7 He could not help liking the
cheery, brisk little woman he had
.rome-disguise it as be might-to
swindle. He had eaten his supper;
that did not trouble him much, for
it was obvious that if he was to be
honest he must live. But how WAS he
TO pay for it9 The horse was not his;
TO leaveit would be to rob Peter to
pay Paul. He was in the same fix
with his clothes. The idea OF doing a
littleswrong to do a great right, on the
Bassanio principle, occurred to him,
and was rejected.
4'No: I'll be honest, and I'll be thor
0ugh!" he said, and, resolving to be
very good and very superior to every
bhing and everyone he met, he STROBE
40 and down the room.
"I'll 60 and see mine hostess" said
he; "maybe something will happen to
me-"
And something did happen which
played sad havoc with his good reso-
!utions.
Entering the kitchen, he found seat
sd by the fire a frail, weary looking
girl OF thirteen, whom the laLdlady in
PRODUCED to him as her daughter.
"Slck OF q bad ague; waiting for the
lit, which will come to her tonight"
'Has she been thus for long?" asked
The student.
"a year this Michaelmas,' said the
andlady; "andsnever q leech can cure
aer. / have tried them all the country
round, and paid them we'll, but there
tits the poor child, growing worse and
worse. and surely shaken into her
yrave." 7 4 =" a@as 4 IT,
"What does her father say? Is there
81 aone in London that could tell you
.Rhatto DOR s.< # !.
1.Her father, sir, has been dead these
three years. am q poor widow, and
~aave spent all he LETT me in trying to
cure che child. but it il OF no AVail
Poor Jess! door Jess! ". J. IS
The stranger looked troubled as5
& Ae was. TO ride away from an inn
without paying his bill was bad
nough; but to cheat poor widow
Ii distress, for whose sick child she
saad sacrificed her means Of living,
ssas, well the act Of 8 scroundrel.